Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!
Chapter 102: ’Poor Heinz’

Chapter 102: ’Poor Heinz’

"I am planning to open the Diamond Palace to the people again. This ball, this test, is the beginning," Heinz said, his tone steady, yet his crimson gaze burned with intensity.

"Huh?" Florian tilted his head, blinking in confusion. ’What does he mean? And how is that even relevant?’

Heinz’s voice didn’t waver as he continued, "In the past, when my predecessor was king, the Diamond Palace was open to the citizens of Concordia. He believed in building connections with the kingdom’s people—being transparent. Strangers were welcomed to voice their concerns. Nobles came here not only for business but to form alliances and discuss ideas. He wanted the palace to be more than a seat of power; he wanted it to be a beacon for the kingdom."

’Sounds like a normal kingdom to me, based on everything I’ve read before,’ Florian mused, crossing his arms over his chest.

"But when I ascended the throne, I shut it all down," Heinz said, his tone sharpening. "I reduced the staff, restricted information flow in and out of the palace, barred strangers from entering, and only allowed nobles to visit when there was urgent business—which, most of the time, wasn’t the case."

"Why?" Florian asked, his brows knitting together.

Heinz leaned back, his expression impassive, yet his voice carried a faint edge. "In my mind, a true king works alone and governs through power and fear. My citizens are mine because I am king. I don’t need to prove anything to earn their loyalty."

’Isn’t that... a bad way of thinking?’ Florian thought, awkwardly suppressing the urge to laugh.

"In the previous king’s reign, there were frequent disputes with neighboring kingdoms—those who wanted control over our mana stones or demanded our Arcaniors to work for them. We were feared because we were the only kingdom capable of using magic."

’Given what happened in the story and everything Heinz did... they had a reason to be afraid, though,’ Florian thought grimly.

"Concordia is now safer because of me. No neighboring kingdom would dare challenge us anymore."

’Mhm. But based on Arthur’s words, the people aren’t happy.’ Florian debated whether to bring up Arthur’s remarks but ultimately decided against it.

Instead, he focused on the bigger question. "Forgive me for asking, but... what does this have to do with me choosing a bride and finding the traitor?"

Heinz’s crimson eyes glinted briefly, a dangerous gleam that sent a shiver down Florian’s spine. He idly twisted a strand of his long hair as he answered, "Whoever killed me had the intention of taking the throne and undermining my authority. This betrayal isn’t just a matter of personal revenge—it’s about the kingdom. There will be uprisings, attacks on nobles, perhaps even a rebel faction. Lancelot is already tracking their movements. Opening the palace and presenting a queen is a calculated move to dismantle their plans before they fully form."

’Oh? Is he trying to repair his image as a king?’ Florian wondered, watching Heinz carefully.

"The rebel faction is likely still small," Heinz continued, his tone measured. "The rogues who kidnapped you were probably intended to be recruited next. By choosing a queen and reopening the palace, we’ll disrupt their plans and..."

"And?" Florian leaned forward slightly, his curiosity piqued.

"And..." Heinz hesitated, his voice dipping lower. "I suspect at least one or two of the dukedoms are involved. Some nobles have never been satisfied with my reign. They may have colluded with the traitor."

’That makes sense. Rebels alone wouldn’t be enough to overthrow a kingdom... And back then, with no heirs and Heinz executing Hendrix, the throne was left vulnerable. A collusion with a duke could’ve made it possible for someone new to take power.’

Florian was begrudgingly impressed. Heinz had clearly thought this through. Perhaps all those hours locked in his office, buried under mountains of papers, weren’t just for show.

Still, there was one thing Florian couldn’t wrap his head around. "Why am I the one choosing who the queen is?"

Heinz tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Mhm? I already gave you the reason, didn’t I?"

’Huh? He actually meant that?’ Florian furrowed his brow. "Your Majesty... you do realize I’m not the real Florian, right?"

"Yes," Heinz replied without hesitation.

"Then you know I wasn’t raised in Floramatria."

A pause. Heinz’s expression stiffened slightly.

’Did he... forget that part?’ Florian bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. Heinz’s face betrayed his frustration, and Florian could barely suppress the urge to snicker. ’This is bad. I can’t laugh at him. Just because he’s treating me normally doesn’t mean I can act out. I need to stay composed.’

With a heavy sigh, Heinz ran a hand over his face, his frustration evident. "Alright. It was a lie."

’Oh?’

"Truthfully, I may have enjoyed the company of the princesses in my first life," Heinz admitted, his voice quieter now. "But only because I had no intention of choosing any of them as my queen. It was purely for... amusement."

’How can he say that so casually? What a bastard.’ Florian rolled his eyes inwardly, though he kept his expression neutral.

"And," Heinz added, his tone softening slightly, "it would be unbecoming of a king to ask anyone else for advice on choosing a wife. I’ve never been inclined toward romance or love. I lack the... experience to make a proper judgment."

Florian raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Are you saying that because I’m not from Concordia, and because you know I’m not the real Florian, you’ve chosen me in the hope that I’d have some knowledge of love?"

"I don’t like that tone of yours," Heinz said, his voice dropping dangerously low, though he averted his gaze. "But... yes. That is correct."

’Oh my... Oh, poor Heinz. You don’t even know...’ Florian sighed internally.

He resisted the urge to groan or facepalm. Instead, he simply thought to himself, ’You’re talking to a 25-year-old virgin who’s never even been kissed.’

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.